Johnston, Francis (architect)

VIAF ID: 95755468
(Personal)

Permalink: http://viaf.org/viaf/95755468

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Francis Johnston‏

Works

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Sources

. london, 51-2, 503–8.</ref> he was responsible for the design of [[armagh courthouse]] built between 1806 and 1809.<ref>{{cite web|title=armagh courthouse|work=charter mark achievers 2005|url=http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/chartermark-achievers-brochure-info-2005.doc|accessdate=29 november 2009}}</ref>[[file:nelson pillar, 1830.jpg|upright|left|thumb|the gpo (left) and nelson's pillar in dublin, ca 1830]]at a time of huge rebuilding in [[georgian dublin]], johnston was one of the architects responsible for sackville street (now [[o'connell street]]). the great pillar and post office were designed to harmonise with each other in the street adding grandeur and elegance to the [[boulevard]].his work is interesting from an architectural point of view, in that it spans both the neo-classical and neo-gothic styles. his [[chapel royal (dublin castle)|chapel royal]] in dublin castle (1807–1814) is a fine example of an early gothic revival church in dublin. on this project (as on many others) he worked closely with the stuccodore [[george stapleton]], son of the better-known [[michael stapleton]]. the chapel proved a seminal building for later gothic revival architects in ireland, with the cork architect [[thomas deane]] using the detailing from the windows as a model for those of the aula maxima of [[university college cork|queens college cork]].among his other most notable projects were the construction of [[st. george's church, dublin|st. george's church]] on the north side of dublin (1802), overseeing the conversion of [[irish houses of parliament|parliament house]] into the bank of ireland (1803–1808)<ref name="dictionary of irish architects"/> and the construction of the [[richmond tower (kilmainham)|richmond tower]] at the junction of watling street and queen's bridge in 1812. this gateway had to be moved to the [[royal hospital kilmainham|royal hospital]], [[kilmainham]] after the arrival of the railway in 1847 increased traffic congestion (obviously not new to dublin!). he had placed his personal coat of arms above the arch, concealed by a piece of wood painted to match the stone, his idea being that his arms would be revealed to future generations after the wood became rotten. however, his little trick was uncovered when the gateway was taken down for removal. the coat of arms at present on the gateway is that of the royal hospital.<ref>{{cite book|last=guinness|first= desmond|author2=jacqueline o'brien|year=1994|title=dublin: a grand tour|location=london|publisher= weidenfeld and nicholson|isbn= 0-297-8322-47|page=38}}</ref>[[file:st-george-dublin-1833.gif|upright|thumb|[[st. george's church, dublin|st. george's church]], hardwicke place, 1833.]]in 1813 he began work on [[griffith barracks|richmond gaol]] as a prison to relieve the pressure on [[newgate prison, dublin]], which had been designed by his teacher thomas cooley.<ref>{{cite book |last=casey |first=christine |title=the buildings of ireland: dublin |publisher=[[yale university press]] |year=2005 |location=london |pages=645 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=aqzyxvx_u8mc&lpg=pa645&ots=bgp3par2jd&dq=griffith%20college%20graduate&pg=pa645 |isbn=0-300-10923-7 }}</ref>he played a major role in designing [[nelson's pillar]] in dublin, the construction of which was started in 1808. the original plans for the pillar were submitted to the organising committee by [[william wilkins (architect)|william wilkins]], a london architect, fellow of caius college, cambridge, and accepted by them in 1808. however, for some reason, the committee wrote later that they were incapable of "executing his design precisely as he had given it." johnston "afforded the necessary assistance with his acknowledged ability, which...he did with the utmost cheerfulness."<ref>{{cite book|last= henchy|first= patrick |year=1949|title=nelson's pillar|publisher= dublin historical record, volume x, no. 2|page= 58}}</ref> he made several drawings, one of which met the approval of the committee sufficiently for construction to start.<ref>{{cite book|last=johnston robb|first= colin |year=1946|title=the irish builder|location=dublin|publisher= irish builder}}</ref> curiously, the table of expenditure for the pillar does not include an architect's fee. the pillar was destroyed by a bomb in 1966.<ref>{{cite book|last=craig|first= maurice |year=1969|title=dublin 1660–1860|location=dublin|publisher= allen figgis|page=287}}</ref>he was also responsible for the design of [[charleville forest castle]] in [[tullamore]], [[county offaly]],<ref name="dictionary of irish architects"/> considered one of the finest of its type in the country.<ref>{{cite book|last=craig|first= maurice|author2=the knight of glin|year=1969|title=ireland observed|location=cork|publisher= mercier press|isbn=0-853-4204-91|page=29}}</ref> as well as the 1807 design of ballycurry house, ballycurry demesne, [[ashford, county wicklow]]<ref name="dictionary of irish architects"/><ref name=niahwicklow>philip smith (writer)